When your child is ill, and you do not know what is wrong, you will be worried about them. You might not know when the best time is to go to the doctor. After all, people always say that parents can overreact and worry for no reason.
Indeed, this can sometimes be the case since they are your child. It is natural to worry about them and whether they are very sick. Equally, not every symptom needs to be addressed by a GP. So, it can be difficult to know when you book a doctor’s appointment or to allow the illness to pass. For some help, here are five symptoms you should not ignore and when you should call the doctor for your child.
Abdominal Pain
There are instances when abdominal pain is not something to worry about. Your child might have eaten too much or something that did not agree with them. This can lead to constipation or gas. But, there are some instances when abdominal pain can be serious and require treatment from a doctor. This is going to apply if they have had abdominal pain consistently or if it is getting worse.
It will be important to ask your child how they are feeling and to describe the pain. If they are in a lot of pain and are clearly uncomfortable moving, this is going to be a cause for concern. So that you can access medical treatment quickly, you may want to have a private health insurance policy for your child. You can check out https://www.usaycompare.co.uk/health-insurance/child for more information. Unfortunately, the NHS has long waiting times, and this can mean that it is difficult to get a doctor’s appointment when you need one. It is a lot easier and quicker to get one privately.
Weight Loss
Have you noticed that your child is losing weight? Of course, if your child does a lot of exercise or they are eating less, they are going to lose fat on their body. But, if your child is losing weight and there have been no changes in their daily routine, this can be a cause for concern. There might be an underlying problem that is leading to weight loss.
So, if this is something that you notice, you should contact a doctor. They are going to be able to investigate whether a health condition is leading to losing weight over a short period of time. For example, it could be something serious like diabetes, as well as things like eating disorders you are not aware of.
A Fever
There are many illnesses and sickness bugs that can lead to a fever. This in itself is not always a cause for concern. When you have a fever, this is the body fighting an infection. But, if you have a fever for a long time, this is when things can get serious. It can indicate that your child is very sick and needs medical treatment.
When it comes to your child, you want to ensure that you are monitoring their symptoms. This means taking their temperature regularly. If it is somewhere above 38 degrees Celsius, this is going to be classed as a fever. If your child has a temperature that is consistently over this number for more than 48 hours, you should see the doctor.
Vomiting Blood
Vomiting is often part of sickness bugs. These can easily spread around the school and your child can be sick for a few days. But, if you notice that there is blood in the vomit, this is going to be something that requirements medical treatment. In fact, it is best to go to the emergency room for this.
Note that some streaks of blood can come up if it is from the mouth. But, if there is a lot and it is bright red or dark brown and black, this is going to be an emergency. It could be a sign that there is bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Eye Discharge
Has your child woken up and suddenly is having problems with their sight? In particular, if they have a lot of eye discharge, this can be a sign that a doctor will need to see them. This discharge will be thick and sticky, which can make it difficult for your child to open their eyes.
Sometimes, this can get better on its own and during the day. But, if you do not see any improvement, this is going to mean a trip to the doctor to see if there is an eye infection.